Vagif Sultanli

1.1. Early Life and Education

Vagif Sultanli was born on March 26, 1958, in the village of Shakhsevan in the Kurdamir District of Azerbaijan. He completed his secondary education, graduating from the Kohnabazar village school in 1974. During his high school years, from 1970 to 1975, he also pursued musical studies at the Kurdamir District Music School. Before embarking on his higher education, he gained early professional experience working at the electricity network of the Kurdamir region between 1974 and 1976. In 1981, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Philology at the Azerbaijan State University, where he specialized in Azerbaijani language and literature.

1.2. Academic and Early Career

Sultanli began his professional career as a language and literature teacher in the village of Kaladzhyk, located in the Ismailli District. Following this, he pursued postgraduate studies at the Department of Contemporary Azerbaijan Literature at Azerbaijan State University. In 1984, he successfully defended his master's thesis titled "The Problem of Character in Azerbaijani Drama (1970-1980)." His academic journey continued with the completion of his doctoral thesis in 1997, which focused on "The Life and Literary Activity of Mahammad Amin Resulzade." From 1984 to 1991, he held various academic positions at Baku State University, including teacher, senior lecturer, and associate professor. In September-October 1999, he furthered his academic engagement by working at the British Literature and Western Culture Department of the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. Since 1999, he has served as a professor at the Department of History of Azerbaijani Literature at Baku State University. Alongside his academic responsibilities, Sultanli has consistently engaged in public activities; he notably founded the World Association of Azerbaijani Studies in 1991 and was elected its inaugural chairman.

1.3. Media and International Activities

Vagif Sultanli's engagement extends to the media and international cultural spheres. From 1995 to 1998, he worked as a correspondent for literary broadcasts within the Azerbaijani editorial office of the American radio stations Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). He has also served as the editor-in-chief for several significant publications issued abroad, including "Khudaferin" in Poland (1995), "Araz" in Sweden (1996-1997), and "World Azerbaijanis" in the United States (2000-2012). Sultanli is the head of the Caucasus Bureau of the Cyprus-Balkans-Eurasia Turkish Literature Organization (KIBATEK), based in Turkey.

His commitment to international collaboration is evident in his long-standing involvement with the World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC), where he was elected a board member at conventions held across Europe: in Sweden (2001), the Netherlands (2002), Germany (2004), Belgium (2008), and the United Kingdom (2010). He is also a member of the International Society for Epic Studies, an organization established in 2012 with its headquarters in Beijing. In 2018, he was elected a member of the International Writers Association, which is based in the United States. Sultanli actively represents Azerbaijani literature and culture at numerous international conferences, symposia, forums, and seminars worldwide. His works have been published in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Denmark, Egypt, Iran, and Russia. For instance, he participated in the 2018 Pyeongchang Humanities Forum, discussing themes of peace and the role of new generation writers.

1.4. Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Vagif Sultanli has received several notable awards and honors recognizing his contributions to literature and academia. In 1995, he was awarded the H. Zardabi Award. The Cyprus-Balkans and Eurasia Turkish Literature Organization (KIBATEK) presented him with the International Turkish Language Service Award in 2003. He also received an Honorary Decree from the Ministry of Culture (Egypt) in 2014 and the Excellence Service Award from the Turkish Language Revival Movement Association in 2017.

1.5. Personal Life

Vagif Sultanli is married and has two children.

2.1. Major Novels and Short Stories

Vagif Sultanli began his literary journey at a young age, though his first published work, the short story "The fragrance of wormwood," appeared in the magazine Azerbaijani Woman in 1980. Since then, he has consistently published his stories, translations, and essays in various media.

One of his notable works is the narrative "The Dream of Death" (1982). This work describes the process of a cemetery transfer, portraying it as a catalyst for significant chaos and anxiety within society. This social upheaval allows for the profound exploration of the characters' internal spiritual worlds. The narrative concludes with the suicide of a bulldozer driver who had been involved in destroying the cemetery, a resolution through which the author seeks to highlight the fundamental contradiction between spiritual and mortal values in the face of death.

His novel "The Human Sea" (1992) holds a special place in his literary output, being crafted with a blend of realistic and conditional-metaphoric styles. Set in the 1980s, the novel follows a protagonist who, having escaped a death sentence, lives secretly in an unfamiliar city. Through this character's experience, Sultanli delves into the pervasive issue of social alienation and its absorption into the spiritual and moral fabric of society.

The novel "Struggle in the Desert" (2010) stands out for its unique narrative style. Its events unfold against the backdrop of a hero's destiny, where a temporal rupture leads him to reject the future and confront the past. This narrative framework enables the author to articulate his philosophical reflections on humanity and the world. "Struggle in the Desert" is particularly marked by a spirit of protest against the global prevalence of alienation, oblivion, negligence, and the sense of unnecessity, effectively critiquing moral decay and societal transformation.

Sultanli's diverse collection of short stories, including "The white way," "The morning mist," "The green song of leafless branches," "The wanderer," "The cave," "Polar night," "The Motherland," "The Island," "Mirage," "Reverse flow," "The silent ring," "The ash cage," "The striped burrow," "The cross shadow," "The clay mystery," "Dervish," and "Red Wheel," are celebrated for their distinctive style and linguistic nuances. He has also authored historical stories such as "The place of meeting," "Navai-Gumru," and "Humayun." Additionally, Sultanli is known for his many lyrical and romantic miniatures.

2.2. Style and Themes

Vagif Sultanli's literary style is marked by a unique approach to storytelling and a distinctive use of language. His works often feature lyrical and romantic miniatures that contribute to their overall aesthetic. A central characteristic of his writing is its consistent focus on pressing social problems, reflecting a critical perspective on issues like social alienation, moral degradation, and the pervasive sense of meaninglessness in contemporary society. His novels, such as "Struggle in the Desert," explicitly demonstrate a spirit of protest against these societal ills, highlighting his role as a commentator on human condition and societal values.

3.1. Key Academic Publications

Sultanli's extensive research in literary criticism and literary science is encapsulated in a series of influential books. These include "Mammad Amin Rasulzade's literary world" (an educational manual, 1993), "The traveler of a hard way" (a monograph, 1996), "The horizons of freedom" (a collection of articles, 1997), and "The literary-theoretical illustrations" (a compilation of theoretical fragments, 2000). Other notable academic works are "The shore of survival" (a dialogue-monograph, 2004), "The issues of studying the literary critics" (an educational manual, 2007), "Literary criticism of Azerbaijan" (educational manuals published in 2009, with improved second editions in 2012 and 2019), and "Love to Independence" (a monograph, 2014). A particularly significant area of his academic activity is his in-depth investigation into Azerbaijani emigration literature, which holds a special place within his body of literary scholarship.

3.2. Scholarly Activities

Vagif Sultanli is a prolific author of numerous journalistic works and scientific articles that delve into various aspects of criticism and the literary process. His scholarly contributions extend to active participation in the international academic community; his reports presented at international conferences, workshops, forums, and seminars are considered important components of his scientific endeavors. He regularly participates in global academic gatherings, including those focused on Azerbaijani literature and culture, contributing to discussions and fostering scholarly exchange.

4.1. Translated Works

Sultanli has translated a variety of literary works into the Azerbaijani language. His translations include the novels "The Leaf Fall" and "The Mill" by the renowned Turkish writer Reşat Nuri Güntekin. He also translated "The Syracusian Scientist," a historical narrative by Sergey Jitomirsky. Additionally, Sultanli has translated stories by a diverse group of authors, including Erwin Strittmatter, Jaroslav Hasek, Veijo Meri, and Gustav Stopka. Notably, he co-translated "About Panturanism" by Mammad Amin Rasulzade from Russian into Azerbaijani.

5.1. Original Works

• "The stars out" (narrative and stories) - 1988
• "The Human Sea" (novel) - 1992
• "Mammad Amin Rasulzade's literary world" (educational manual) - 1993
• "The traveler of hard way" (monograph) - 1996
• "The horizons of freedom" (collection of articles) - 1997
• "Azerbaijani Emigration Literature" (educational manual) - 1998
• "Slave market" (stories, miniatures, essays) - 1999
• "Literary-theoretical illustrations" (theoretical fragments) - 2000
• "The Dream of Death" (novel, stories and essays) - 2002
• "The shore of survival" (dialogue-monograph) - 2004
• "The issues of studying of literary critics" (educational manual) - 2007
• "Literary criticism of Azerbaijan" (educational manual) - 2009
• "The valley of unnecessity" (novel and stories) - 2010
• "Literary criticism of Azerbaijan" - Improved 2nd publication (educational manual) - 2012
• "Love to Independence" (monograph) - 2014
• "Struggle in the Desert" (novel) - 2015
• "Literary criticism of Azerbaijan" - Improved 2nd publication (educational manual) - 2019

5.2. Works Translated into Other Languages

• "The Human Sea" (novel). Edited by Michael Brannock, Liverpool, Rossendale Books, 2012, 204 p.
• "The Human Sea" (novel). Bloomington, Trafford Publishing, 2012, 240 p.
• "The Dream of Death" (novel and short stories). Edited by Michael Brannock, London, Rossendale Books, 2013, 162 p.
• "Reverse flow" (novel and short stories). Edited by Michael Brannock, London, Rossendale Books, 2014, 182 p.
• "The Dream of Death" (novel and short stories). Edited by Annemarie Sjold, Helsinge, Whyte Tracks Publishing, 2014, 136 p.
• "Reverse flow" (short story). Translated into Korean by Eun-kyung Oh, "Asia" (Seoul), 2015, Spring, Vol. 36, pp. 189-196.
• "The Legend of the Snake" (A novel and collection of short stories). Edited by Michael Brannock, London, Rossendale Books, 2015, 308 p.
• "The Dream of Death" (novel and short stories). II Edition, Edited by Annemarie Sjold and Tamara Dragadze, Helsinge, Whyte Tracks Publishing, 2015, 136 p.
• "A Blind Tie. Selected Works", Raleigh, Rossendale Books, 2017, 400 p.
• "Sruggle in the Desert." (novel), London, Rossendale Books, 2019, 196 p.
• "The Battle of Kulikovo" (A novel and short stories). Edited by Michael Brannock, London: Rossendale Books, 2023, 276 p.
• "The Human Sea & The Dream of Death" (Two novels). Edited by Michael Brannock, London: Rossendale Books, 2023, 337 p.